From

Location

Message

Date Posted

California

Perhaps this is a silly question. If I'm in hot, sunny California, should I grow a seed from a pumpkin grown in a similar climate? Or does that not matter with genetics?

1/2/2021 5:33:14 PM

Colorado

Kinda.Ask whoever's seed you want to try how good their plant was in the sun.

1/2/2021 6:47:22 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Not sure if it is genetics or what but I live in very hot and humid climate and some plants do great in heat and some plants flag very easily

1/2/2021 7:29:28 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

It isn't what seed to plant,find out what Calif growers near you need to do to be successful to growing giant pumpkins.

1/2/2021 8:23:56 PM

Syracuse, NY

Thanks, Mister.

1/2/2021 10:28:08 PM

Grittyville, WA

There are good CA seeds no one has even tried. I think this guy said his plant held up well in the heat

https://tools.pumpkinfanatic.com/PumpkinsSeedGenetics.php?PN=1533 Henkin 2017

1/2/2021 11:21:21 PM

Penryn CA

I'm near Sacramento CA and we have heatwaves. I've grow east coast pumpkins and they grow fine. You need to use Shade Cloth in the hot CA areas.

1/2/2021 11:43:34 PM

Australia eastcoastcitrus@hotmail.com

i notice some plants handle heat way better than others if they flag there not growing look at gourdzillas 2018 diary with the 1791 werner seed he sums it up out of the plants i have grown the ones that handle the heat better always grow the bigger and heavier fruits

1/3/2021 4:09:17 AM

Syracuse, NY

I know there are many underlying causes as to why plants flag in the first place - like, stomata open or closed and why or when and roots/vines not carrying enough water to the leaves, etc. They usually straighten up after a 15-20-minute overhead dousing with cool water or evening cooling occurs...imagine a plant flagging at night? uh-oh---let's hit up that Search Window, lol! I just did, 'flagging', which is a VERY broad term in this case, but being specific really reduces the results, of course, and there's a great deal of info - head for the bottom where all the discussions are - you'll all be unable to once the auction starts, Sunday @ 8 PM. eg

1/3/2021 6:08:40 AM

Centennial Colorado

Genetics matter. For example I grew a 1911 Urena and it had a tendency to burn, but the 1803 Gadberry never burned or flagged. Misting is the best defence. I live in a hot and dry environment with a high alctitude. Putting shade cloth of 20% reduces the flagging, while not inhibiting growth.

1/3/2021 9:45:23 AM

Guelph, Ontario

Climate that seed is from will not make any difference. The genetics are all intermingled.

To make a difference you would need a line breeding program for about 20 generations to isolate specific climate difference genetics, if such exist in genome, which I doubt.

Yes , you can get a specific seed from a cross that does better for you, but reasons it does is hit or miss. Another seed from same cross would be entirely different.

1/3/2021 1:35:08 PM

California

Great, thank you for all the excellent responses. You've all given me a great deal of helpful information. I'll look into it more and certainly use shade cloth.

1/3/2021 2:13:50 PM

Australia eastcoastcitrus@hotmail.com

does anyone have preference over colour as i have found and noticed watching other growers here that orange is harder to grow here and if it does make it to be weighed its usually light and doesnt keep as long as the white ones

1/3/2021 3:10:26 PM

Syracuse, NY

I think that if anyone has a bunch of seeds that grow 2200+ or thereabouts that eventually one of them will be orange just by luck of the draw; that being said, I wonder: do other countries celebrate Halloween and what is the level of need for a pumpkin to be orange, as opposed to HUGE?
In other words, would everybody be happy with an occasional orange one in favor of them being easier to get large rather than orange? Naturally, I am sure that a 2700-pound ORANGE WR that we ARE headed toward would be the ultimate goal---eg

1/4/2021 3:50:16 AM

Colorado

Dale, thats similar to my bias against orange genetics. !501 Vander Weilen might be a exception to that. Orange lives matter:)

1/4/2021 9:15:17 AM

Australia eastcoastcitrus@hotmail.com

yes a weigh in with all pumpkins looking similar same colour wouldnt have the same appeal

1/4/2021 2:07:30 PM

San Diego

growing in high heat in eastern san diego, some seeds do way better than others in the heat. Genetics play a role for sure. Some seeds just have that ability to handle heat way better than others. I start a few and narrow it to one. As for anyone in a hot climate, I will give a shout out to the 1791 Daletas. One of the most under rated seeds out there for someone to grow in a warm area. Does really good in high heat consistantly. I have seen 3 1791 plants grown in my area over 3 years. Two by myself and one by Vince (Gourdzilla). All went huge and all handled the heat very well.

1/8/2021 8:34:06 PM

San Diego

my mistake, 1791 Werner was the seed I meant

1/9/2021 12:54:31 AM